With Vehicle Feature Patents (Class 165/41)
  • Patent number: 8069906
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery apparatus includes an evaporation unit, a condensation unit, an evaporation-side communication part and a condensation-side communication part. The evaporation unit is disposed in a duct member through which an exhaust gas generated from an engine flows, and evaporates an operation fluid by heat of the exhaust gas. The condensation unit is disposed in a coolant passage through which a coolant flows, and condenses the operation fluid by radiating the heat to the coolant. The evaporation-side communication part connects the evaporation unit and the condensation unit for introducing evaporated operation fluid to the condensation unit. The condensation-side communication part connects the condensation unit and the evaporation unit for introducing condensed operation fluid to the evaporation unit. The condensation-side communication part is in contact with an outer surface of the duct member at least at a part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuki Mukoubara, Seiji Inoue, Kimio Kohara, Kenshirou Muramatsu, Yasutoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8069905
    Abstract: A gas cooling device capable of efficiently cooling a gas such as an EGR gas, etc. is provided. A multiplicity of cooling pipes perpendicularly intersecting a gas flow direction in a gas pipe for a gas such as an EGR gas, etc. are provided to extend through an outer peripheral wall of the gas pipe, a cooling jacket is provided on an outer surface of the gas pipe on both sides of a group of the cooling medium pipes in an axial direction, or on the entire outer surface of the gas pipe, and the gas in the gas pipe is cooled by a cooling medium flowing through the cooling pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
    Inventor: Tadahiro Goto
  • Publication number: 20110289944
    Abstract: A humidity control and air-conditioning system for a vehicle having a plurality of heat exchangers which are coated with desiccant. The heat exchangers are configured to alternate between a cooling mode and a regeneration mode. In the cooling mode cooled refrigerant is circulated in the heat exchanger and air is passed over the heat exchanger thus cooling and drying the air. In the regeneration mode the heat exchanger is heated by heat generated by an engine and air is passed over the heat exchanger to assist in removing moisture from the desiccant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Jun Ouyang, Hu Tang, Guohui Zhong, Aigen Deng
  • Publication number: 20110289905
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine having a housing, a cylindrical body disposed within the housing, an annular exhaust gas passageway, and a central exhaust gas passageway. The EGHR heat exchanger also includes a bypass valve disposed within the central passageway and adapted to selectively by-pass a portion of the exhaust gas from the central exhaust gas passageway to the annular passageway, and at least one twisted tube having at least one edge coiled within the annular exhaust gas passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: JAMES A. ACRE, JAMES A. BRIGHT, JAMES J. KOO, MARK J. ZIMA
  • Patent number: 8061410
    Abstract: A heat exchanger block including at least two heat exchangers each including a pair of longitudinal headers with tubes extending between the headers, at least some of which are aluminum cast parts. Adjacent heat exchangers are detachably connected at adjacent ends of their headers wherein one of the adjacent headers includes a recessed portion in the adjacent end and the other of the adjacent headers includes a flange receivable in the recess of the one header. Matching holes extend through the flange and the one header end, and a fastener extends through the matching holes in the ends of at least one set of adjacent headers. Shroud attachments are along a longitudinal wall of at least one of the longitudinal headers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Norbert Machanek
  • Patent number: 8056613
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle or ATV, includes a frame, an internal combustion engine, a radiator, a control module and a heat guard. The radiator is configured for receiving fresh air and for expelling heated air. The control module includes an engine control unit for the internal combustion engine. At least a portion of the heat guard is positioned adjacent to and between the radiator and the control module. The heat guard is configured to deflect at least a portion of the heated air expelled by the radiator from contacting the control module. The heat guard is also configured for receiving fresh air for cooling the heat guard to reduce radiation of heat from the heat guard to the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Rodney Frijas
  • Patent number: 8051809
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system which is used to cool at least one piece of motor vehicle equipment to a low temperature, comprising a heat transfer fluid circulation loop. According to the invention, a low-temperature heat exchanger (60) and at least one equipment exchanger (102) are mounted to the aforementioned circulation loop. The heat exchange surface of the equipment exchanger (102) is divided into at least first and second heat exchange sections (104,106). A first flow (Q<SB>1</SB>) of heat-transfer fluid passes through the first heat exchange section (104), while a second smaller flow (Q2) passes through the second section. The invention is suitable for motor vehicle heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Pascal Guerrero, Srun-Ngy Ap, Philippe Jouanny
  • Patent number: 8051904
    Abstract: The vehicular temperature control device includes an external housing, a pair of internal compartments and a mechanism in each compartment that allows the device to either cool off or warm up an interior area within a vehicle. One of the internal compartments includes a belt, a rotating fan attached to the belt, and a volume of water for evaporative cooling. This chamber will help cool down surrounding air. The other internal compartment also includes a belt and a rotating fan attached to the belt and, furthermore, a heating coil. This second compartment is designed to assist an individual in heating up the surrounding air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Whiting
  • Publication number: 20110265971
    Abstract: An auxiliary vehicle rest station for providing auxiliary utility services to a parked wheeled vehicle. The auxiliary vehicle rest station includes a caddy having wheels for transporting and maneuvering the device. The caddy is configured to be positionable at least partially beneath the parked wheeled vehicle. A boom is attached to and projects from the caddy to accommodate introduction of conditioned air through the boom into the vehicle. The auxiliary vehicle rest station includes an air conditioning system. The auxiliary vehicle rest station also includes a conductor for connecting the air conditioning system a power supply. Alternately, the auxiliary vehicle rest station may include a power supply system. The auxiliary vehicle rest station may also include data links for communication and entertainment systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: William Thaxton
  • Publication number: 20110259545
    Abstract: A coolant circulation circuit includes a pipe through which a liquid coolant cooling an object to be cooled circulates, and a heat exchanger cooling the coolant. The pipe has an inner circumferential surface provided with a plurality of bubble trapping regions capable of trapping bubbles and placed at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the pipe, such that air within the pipe can be divided and trapped in the plurality of bubble trapping regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro IWANO, Keita MIZUGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20110247779
    Abstract: A shutter system includes a first louver element having a first pivot axis and a second louver element having a second pivot axis. The first louver element is configured to rotate about the first pivot axis, and the second louver element is configured to rotate about the second pivot axis. The shutter system additionally having a flexible drive element connecting the first louver element and the second louver element to thereby substantially synchronize the rotation of the first and second louver elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott P. Charnesky, Brain D. Van Buren, Richard J. Skurkis
  • Patent number: 8033321
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising at least one pipe (1) and at least one lamina (2), for exchanging heat between a first coolant that flows through the pipe (1) and a second coolant that wets the heat exchanger under the influence of centrifugal forces in order to be cooled and to be available to further cool a rotating machine element (3) that is situated in a housing (4). The heat exchanger is of approximately ring-shaped design, essentially surrounds the rotating machine element (3) and is integrated into the housing (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Viktor Brost, Rainer Kaesinger, Ivo Agner, Oliver Noehl, Johannes Arnold
  • Publication number: 20110240392
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle includes a throttle body arranged while restraining the effect of the exhaust air of a radiator while restraining the vehicle width even though the radiator is large. A radiator includes a mixed flow fan which flows exhaust air from the radiator rearwardly and outwardly in the vehicle width direction and a motor configured to rotate the mixed flow fan on the back surface thereof. A throttle body is arranged rearwardly of the mixed flow fan so as to be overlapped with the mixed flow fan in a front view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Masayuki IWATA, Manabu Fujii
  • Publication number: 20110240249
    Abstract: A fluid temperature stabilization system may employ an exterior casing defining an internal cavity, one or more phase change material may be located within the internal cavity. A fluid inlet may be located at a first end of the casing providing access into the internal cavity, and an outlet may be located at a second end of the casing providing fluid access from the internal cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick Powell, Robert Cardno
  • Patent number: 8028522
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling system for a motor vehicle comprising a first heat exchanger (1), in particular, embodied in the form of a main cooler for cooling a first liquid coolant (3) of an internal combustion engine (2) by means of an air flow coming from the ambient air and a second heat exchanger (7, 13, 407, 415) for cooling gases introduceable into the internal combustion engine, in particular, exhaust gases and/or charge air, wherein the second heat exchanger (7, 13, 407, 415) is coolable by the an air flow coming from the ambient air and is spatially separated from the main cooler (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Irmler, Ulrich Maucher
  • Patent number: 8029344
    Abstract: A motor vehicle climate control system that utilizes a door to selectively open and close an inlet formed in a housing of the climate control system. The housing includes a wall having a seal surface. The seal surface is spaced outwardly from an inner surface of the wall. A seal member, typically attached to the door used to open and close the inlet, contacts the seal surface when the door is placed in a position to close the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Prakash Thawani, Zhengyu Liu
  • Publication number: 20110232293
    Abstract: A fuel heat management system comprises a fuel line for conveying fuel, and a fuel/oil heat exchanger which receives fuel flowing through the fuel line. The fuel heat management system further comprises an oil line for circulating oil from an engine oil system to the fuel/oil heat exchanger and back to the engine oil system. The fuel/oil heat exchanger brings the oil and the fuel into heat exchange relationship. The fuel heat management system further comprises an air/oil heat exchanger which receives oil flowing through the oil line, the air/oil heat exchanger bringing the oil and air into heat exchange relationship. The fuel heat management system further comprises an air/fuel heat exchanger which receives fuel flowing through the fuel line, the air/fuel heat exchanger bringing the fuel and air into heat exchange relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Robert E. LEESE
  • Publication number: 20110226542
    Abstract: A cooling module is provided for motor vehicles with a plurality of modular elements. At least one first modular element is provided for the arrangement in a deformation region of the motor vehicle and at least one second modular element is also arranged. The at least one first modular element is displaceable relative to the at least one second modular element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Claus STELLER
  • Publication number: 20110220318
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, such as a radiator, may transfer heat from a liquid and employ a first header tank, a second header tank, a plurality of tubes fluidly joining the first and second header tanks, and a baffle within one of the first or second header tanks. The baffle may be located in a header tank positioned substantially parallel or perpendicular to a surface upon which a vehicle employing the hear exchanger rests. The baffle may be a wall defining only one slot, a wall defining only one slot that is open through one side of the wall, a wall that defines a plurality of slots, or a wall that defines a plurality of holes. The heat exchanger may further employ fluidly isolated first and second tube and fin sections each defining a self-contained flow path for cooling different liquids. The baffle may slow coolant flow in a flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicants: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Kopchick, Michiyasu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8015789
    Abstract: An aero-engine nose cone anti-icing system (10) using a rotating heat pipe (12) is provided to replace the current method of blowing hot compressor bleed air over the nose cone surface. Heat is transferred from a hot source (36) within the engine (22) to the nose cone (18) through a rotating heat pipe (12) along the central shaft (16). A condenser (20) and evaporator (14) are provided which are adapted to the heat transfer requirements and space constraints in the engine (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Horace Brand, Michael John Dowhan
  • Publication number: 20110214838
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a first heat storage device having a first heat storage medium, a battery disposed under a floor of a compartment of a vehicle on a chassis side and a heat insulator covering the first heat storage device for insulating. The first heat storage device is disposed on and thermally connected to the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hirokuni AKIYAMA, Hidehito Kubo, Naoya Yokomachi, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110204698
    Abstract: A dumper with a dump body includes at least one heating system for heating and/or warming up the body, wherein the heat transfer medium of the heating circuit is a liquid carrier medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Liebherr-Hydraulikbagger GmbH
    Inventor: HARALD WESTNER
  • Patent number: 7992628
    Abstract: A liquid cooled charge air cooler includes a plurality of pairs of adjacent separator plates supported in parallel spaced relation. The pairs alternatingly define a first set of adjacent pairs in fluid communication with a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet, and a second set of adjacent pairs in fluid communication with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. Fins extend between adjacent plates of the first set of adjacent pairs to define a charge air flow path between the charge air inlet and the charge air outlet. A plurality of dams extend between adjacent plates of the second set of adjacent pairs in a select offset configuration to define a multi-pass coolant flow path between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet. Each dam includes an associated bypass port allowing a portion of coolant to bypass at least a portion of the coolant flow path through the dams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Melby, Jason J. Braun, Thomas J. Reiss, David E. Janke
  • Patent number: 7992622
    Abstract: A fitting assembly for connecting an oil cooler assembly to a radiator assembly in a vehicle cooling system includes a radiator having an inlet header tank with an outer wall. The outer wall includes an inlet cooler opening and an outlet cooler opening disposed in the outer wall. The inlet cooler opening is disposed about an inlet axis and the outlet cooler opening is disposed about an outlet axis. An oil cooler having an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold is disposed within the header tank. A fitting interconnects the oil cooler and the header tank of the radiator. A pair of tracks are integrated with the outer wall and are disposed within the header tank. A spring clip extends between the tracks and the fitting for retaining the fitting to the header tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S Newman, Timothy John Peters
  • Publication number: 20110168348
    Abstract: A heat sink is used to absorb heat produced by a vehicle. The heat sink uses a steam reformer to create an endothermic reaction between two fluids. Excess heat from the vehicle's engine is used to heat the reactor to facilitate the endothermic reaction. In some embodiments, the reactant fluids are pre-heated by absorbing heat from various components of the vehicle. Excess heat from the various components or from the vehicle engine is used to vaporize the fluids before the fluids enter the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert J. Perry, Daniel G. Norton
  • Patent number: 7977605
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating assembly (1) comprising at least one PCT element, in particular for a motor vehicle, said PCT element (2) being located between two contact sheets (3, 4), which are used to make electrical contact. According to the invention, the heating assembly (1) comprises a frame (7) and at least one of the two contact sheets (3)comprises a staggered section outside the frame (7), said staggered section of the projecting part (10) of the contact sheet (3) running parallel with the remaining part (11) of said sheet (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Behr France Rouffach SAS
    Inventors: Michel Brun, Pascal Miss, Mathieu Mougey
  • Patent number: 7971631
    Abstract: A heat exchanger unit for motor vehicles includes one first heat exchanger and one second heat exchanger. Each heat exchanger includes two collector pipes which are arranged at a distance from each other. One collector pipe of the first heat exchanger is arranged substantially adjacent to one collector pipe of the second heat exchanger. Also, the other collector pipe of the first heat exchanger is arranged substantially adjacent to the other collector pipe of the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manuel Alcaine, Klaus Hassdenteufel, Markus Höglinger, Wolfgang Reier, Rainer Ruoff, Michael Spieth
  • Patent number: 7971799
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a heating assembly comprising, in combination, a main radiator (1) for fluid flow and an electric radiator. The latter is disposed on one face of the main radiator (1) defining its general plane, and consists of a plurality of independent heating elements (6). Each of these heating elements (6) comprises an elementary electrical heating body (7), having connecting means (31, 31?) for connection to an electrical power source, and a finned element (8). These heating elements (6) are assembled on a connecting structure of the electric radiator on the face of the main radiator (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Colette, Frederic Pierron, Gilbert Terranova, Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 7963315
    Abstract: A vehicle with an air conditioner comprises an instrument panel center member disposed vertically behind an evaporator and fixed to a vehicle structure. The evaporator is disposed obliquely in such a manner that its maximum-area face has a crossing angle relative to a horizontal face and a distance between its front and rear ends is a specified length or greater. The evaporator is configured so as to be rotated between a vehicle dash panel being moved rearward and the instrument panel center member at a frontal crash of a vehicle in such a manner that the distance between its front end and rear end becomes shorter. Accordingly, the evaporator can be prevented from being pushed into a vehicle cabin at the vehicle frontal crash, thereby ensuring the safety of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20110139396
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fluid mixing system. The fluid mixing system includes a fluid and a heat engine. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in heat exchange contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The heat engine is operable to mix the fluid between the first fluid region and the second fluid region in response to a change in the crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy to reduce the difference in the composition of the fluid bath between the first fluid region and the second fluid region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, James Holbrook Brown, Xiujie Gao, Paul W. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20110139395
    Abstract: A heat transport system includes a fluid, a heat engine, and a component. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The heat engine is operable to transfer heat from one of the first fluid region and the second fluid region to the other of the first fluid region and the second fluid region in response to the crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Marten Wittorf, Nancy L. Johnson, Patrick B. Usoro, Paul W. Alexander, James Holbrook Brown, Xiujie Gao
  • Publication number: 20110132584
    Abstract: An aircraft heat exchanger that exchanges heat between fluid, like air, to be warmed and a medium, like a liquid, to be cooled has a first path that encounters the fluid to be warmed and carries the medium at a first temperature. A second path carries the medium at a second temperature adjacent to the first path. An insulation gap is disposed between the first path and the second path so that heat exchange between the first and second path is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: George E. Wilmot
  • Publication number: 20110132570
    Abstract: A compound heat exchanger includes a plurality of adjacent, continuous fins. Each fin defines a channel having an associated fin axis. A first portion of each channel extends along the axis, and a second portion of each channel is tortuous in opposing directions about the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: George E. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 7950443
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a heat exchanger such as a condenser of an air conditioning system on a vehicle, for pivotal movement between an operational position and a position angularly related to the operational position, for such purposes as inspection, cleaning, service and maintenance, the apparatus being configured for holding the heat exchanger in the operational position, and for guiding and controlling movement thereof to the tilted position, and holding the heat exchanger in the tilted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: John T. Rasset, Jay M. Larson
  • Patent number: 7938150
    Abstract: Reduction of fuel tank heating during the refueling process is effected by a coolant exchange between the station and the vehicle whereby an on board heat exchanger internal to the tank is interconnected through a heat exchanger external to the tank with a station side cooler that cools the refill gas to an ambient temperature. As a result of station provided ambient temperature cooling, the vehicle does not need to have particularly complicated on-board cooling devices, nor does the station need to be encumbered with complex and expensive pre cooling devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Ltd
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Handa
  • Publication number: 20110100585
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus is provided for an electrical device that gives off heat during operation. The cooling apparatus has a housing (2) with a cavity and inlet and outlet openings (15, 18) that communicate with the cavity. A cooling insert (8) is disposed in the cavity and has depressions (21, 22, 31, 32) that extending in a meandering manner along surfaces of the cooling insert (8). The depressions and opposed surfaces of the housing (2) form cooling ducts that extend between the inlet and outlet openings (15, 18) to accommodate a flow of a cooling medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jonas Hohenstein, Paul Hurmer, Armin Schweizer
  • Publication number: 20110094707
    Abstract: A method of conserving energy during a heating event wherein a coolant is heated in a cooling system is disclosed. The method includes establishing a first set point temperature for a first point in the cooling system and establishing a second set point temperature lower than the first set point temperature for a second point in the cooling system. Normally, the coolant is maintained at the second set point temperature at the second set point in the cooling system. During the heating event, the second set point temperature is raised to substantially match the first set point temperature to reduce necessary heating of the coolant at the first point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: William Schwartz, Chendong Huang, Stephen Fan, Upendra Patel, Ken Jackson, Joseph Stanek
  • Patent number: 7918297
    Abstract: A motor vehicle chassis and a water-cooled internal combustion engine attached thereto has a cooling system comprising coolant-conducting pipes least one radiator element, and a coolant pump produces forced flow in the cooling circuit. A portion of the cooling pipe system as a distributor pipe module is attached to the vehicle's axle support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Klaus Schneider
  • Patent number: 7910864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a PTC heating element with at least one PTC resistance element which is arranged between two electrically conductive plates in a housing opening of a housing and, with at least one of the electrically conductive plates as an intermediate layer, which is pressed with an initial tension against a heat-emitting element which is held at the housing. With the present invention, a PTC heating element of the type mentioned at the beginning that can be manufactured easily and economically is to be specified. To solve this problem, the present invention further develops the PTC heating element mentioned at the beginning in such a way that attachment tabs arranged on the edge of the housing opening protrude beyond the housing opening and in such a way that the heat-emitting element has tab cuts, behind which the tabs engage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Bohlender
  • Publication number: 20110056570
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing a pressure of compressed natural gas and for delivering natural gas are disclosed. A regulator comprising a vortex tube may be used to reduce the pressure of compressed natural gas while a temperature thereof is also reduced. The temperature reduction associated with a pressure drop in the compressed natural gas is achieved by throttling the gas at constant enthalpy from 3,000 PSIG to 150 PSIG through the regulator. At least one heat exchanger may be utilized to increase the temperature of the compressed natural gas to a temperature suitable for injection delivery. A pressure-reducing regulator may be used to further reduce a pressure of the gas to about 45 PSIG for delivery to an end-user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: QUESTAR GAS COMPANY
    Inventors: Todd Allan Bayliff, Troy David Sorensen, Michael Lowell Gill, Richard Joseph Kiser, II, Kelly D. Pace, Lee R. Mettmann
  • Patent number: 7900688
    Abstract: An air heater includes a bell housing semi-attached to an exhaust fume output manifold of an engine of a vehicle for collecting hot air, preferably during starting, linked by an air hose to a small turbine or an extractor which forces air into vehicle's compartment, to front and rear screens or to exterior rear view mirrors by way of a suitable pipe or several of these; a thermostat for shutting off the air heater and opening up or turning on the vehicle's conventional heater by means of a manual or electrically-operated butterfly valve, shutting off the turbine. It includes a bell housing semi-attached to the exhaust fume output manifold of an engine of a vehicle for collecting hot air, preferably during starting, linked by an air hose to a small turbine or an extractor which forces air into the vehicle's compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventors: Aniceto Salvador Lara, Juan Lloveras Calvo
  • Patent number: 7896062
    Abstract: A cooling system for a work vehicle is disclosed that includes first and second heat exchangers disposed one above the other to create two discrete flow paths. The upper heat exchanger is an engine water cooler and the lower heat exchanger may be an intercooler, an oil cooler or a refrigerant condenser. The lower heat exchanger is disposed forward of the upper heat exchanger. Additional heat exchangers may be positioned in front of the first and second heat exchangers to provide additional cooling. The first and second heat exchanger may be cross-flow heat exchangers conducting the fluid to be cooled laterally through the core of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: William H. Adamson, Stephen M. Balcom, Daniel A. Morey, Daniel M. Ruedinger
  • Patent number: 7891575
    Abstract: A thermal storage and transfer system includes a cooling system and method using ice or other frozen material with heat pipes to produce a cool airstream. Preferably, the ice is disposed in a container with the condensers and evaporators of the heat pipes respectively inside and outside the container. A fan blows air across the evaporator sections through a duct to circulate within an enclosed airspace to be cooled. A separate refrigeration system which may be used to independently cool the airspace also freezes water or another liquid to produce the ice or other frozen material in the container. The cooling system is broadly applicable, including use on motor vehicles to provide cooling for several hours when the vehicle engine is off. A heating system includes an adsorbent heat exchanger for extracting heat from exhaust gases of an engine and heating an enclosed airspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Samuel M. Sami
  • Patent number: 7878231
    Abstract: The piping with a coolant inlet is provided with a partition wall within a body part. In the body part, a flow path having a U-turn region changing the flow direction of a coolant by about 180° degrees is defined. Much of the air contained in the coolant returning from a communicating hole to the body part floats up in a region leading to the U-turn region and is released from an inlet to the outside. By using this configuration, it is possible to provide a piping with a coolant inlet having a structure capable of efficiently releasing the air generated in a coolant circulation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Akiyama, Tomohiro Oono
  • Patent number: 7878233
    Abstract: An air-to-air aftercooler may include at least one tube body configured to direct a flow of charged air, wherein the at least one tube body includes a first material. The air-to-air aftercooler may also include a header assembly coupled to ends of the at least one tube body. The header assembly may include a second different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Kent C. Bates, Jiubo Ma, Rishabh Sinha
  • Patent number: 7877991
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device includes an evaporator for evaporating working medium sealed thereinto by exhaust heat from an internal combustion engine, a condenser for cooling the working medium evaporated at the evaporator, and a communication portion for communicating the evaporator with the condenser in an annular shape. The exhaust heat recovery device further includes an internal pressure operating valve adapted to be closed when a pressure of the working medium is equal to or more than a predetermined pressure, and a temperature operating valve adapted to be closed when a temperature of the coolant is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature. The internal pressure operating valve and the temperature operating valve are disposed between a downstream side of the condenser and an upstream side of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Miyagawa, Kimio Kohara, Seiji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110017421
    Abstract: A vehicle seat air-conditioner includes a seat on which an occupant sits, a seat temperature adjustment device that adjusts the temperature of a conditioned gas, a blower that supplies the conditioned gas to the seat, a seat covering layer provided on a surface of the seat and facing the seated occupant, and a flow channel provided on an underside of the seat covering layer that pass the conditioned gas that is introduced by the blower. The vehicle seat air-conditioner is adapted to convey heat of the conditioned gas to an occupant side of the seat covering layer by directly blowing out a portion of the introduced conditioned gas to the occupant side of the seat covering layer, and to perform heat exchange with the occupant side of the seat covering layer by circulating a portion of a remainder of the conditioned gas through the flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hidenori Esaki
  • Publication number: 20110005707
    Abstract: In a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a first blower unit is connected by a connection duct to a side portion of a casing having respective air passages defined therein, and a second blower unit separate from the first blower unit is connected to a lower portion of the casing. Air is supplied to the interior of the casing from the first blower unit and is cooled by a first cooling section of an evaporator, whereas air that is supplied from the second blower unit is cooled by passing through a second cooling section in the evaporator, which is separated from the first cooling section by a partition plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Seto
  • Publication number: 20110005708
    Abstract: In a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a first blower unit is connected by a connection duct to a side portion of a casing having respective air passages defined therein, and a second blower unit separate from the first blower unit is connected to a lower portion of the casing. In addition, air is supplied to the interior of the casing from the first blower unit and is cooled by a first cooling section of an evaporator, whereas air that is supplied from the second blower unit is cooled by passing through a second cooling section in the evaporator, which is separated from the first cooling section by a pair of first and second partitioning members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Seto, Takesi Habasita
  • Publication number: 20110000637
    Abstract: To provide a heat exchanger assembly for a construction machine, which can facilitate attachment/detachment work of dustproof nets and can attach the dustproof nets with suppressed flapping. A heat exchanger assembly for a construction machine is provided with heat exchangers mounted on a frame for cooling a drive source mounted on the frame, a fan mounted on the frame for supplying cooling air to the heat exchangers, and dustproof nets arranged upstream of the heat exchangers in a flow of the cooling air produced by the fan. The dustproof nets are each provided with a net section held taut within a frame section, and a clipping part attached to the frame section. The clipping part is arranged such that it can be releasably fastened to a clipped part arranged on the corresponding heat exchanger. The clipping part is provided at its end portion with a bent portion. At least one of the bent portion 34e and the clipped part is provided with an elastic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng Chang, Tamio Kobayashi, Kensuke Sato